EastEnders’ Lacey Turner’s hidden tattoos and their meanings including huge inking on back

After first appearing on EastEnders back in 2004, Lacey Turner has become a familiar face on our screens.

From her troubled relationship with her mother to her mental health struggles, Lacey’s character Stacey Slater has been involved with some very high-profile storylines. In recent months alone, her character has been at the centre of a stalking ordeal after selling adult photos online.

However, while viewers may be familiar with 35 year old Lacey when she’s on Albert Square, they may be less familiar with her incredible tattoo collection. In fact, Lacey is one of many soap stars whose tattoos remain mainly hidden on screen, with famous faces such as Coronation Street ‘s Beverley Callard also having some impressive inkings.

Lacey’s impressive tattoo collection can be found across her back, and the soap star has a selection of different inkings placed in the area, including an elephant, quote and two birds.

Speaking previously to OK! about the meaning of her elephant tattoo, Lacey, who shares children Dusty and Trilby with husband Matt, said that she chose the design out of love for the animal.

“I’d always wanted an elephant, as I love them. I’d been thinking about it for about 18 months. You can see my back in my wedding dress and it felt like there was a gap on my back so I wanted to fill it,” she said.

What’s more elephants are considered by some to be a symbol of good luck and can symbolise power and wisdom.

Lacey also has two birds that sit inwards on her shoulders that look like swallows. The birds are thought to represent freedom, loyalty and love.

However, historically, tattoos of swallows are said to have been used by British sailors to show off their sailing experience.

Just above the elephant tat, and in between the two swallows, the soap star has a Hamsa Hand tattoo. The symbol is a sign of protection, power and strength and is often features in jewellery designs.

Finally, underneath Lacey’s elephant tattoo is a quote, which reads: “Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

The quote is commonly attributed to American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, though there’s no evidence that he made the statement.

After she took to Instagram in 2017 to reveal her huge tattoo collection, Lacey’s fans were quick to gush over the inkings.

“Your tattoos look fab,” wrote one social media user. “Omg you have amazing tattoos on your back x,” added another.

Meanwhile a third wrote: “This is amazing” alongside a heart emoji.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.